Started in 1949, Joe Friday was the Los Angeles Police detective in the radio show Dragnet. In 1951 the show made the transition to television, while maintaining the radio show. Often considered to be one of the first shows to popularize police drama, this show was created by its star Jack Webb. Throughout it's long run the dry demeanor of the terse Sergeant Joe Friday became an American icon known by everyone. The show's popularity outlived its creator, who passed in 1982, and continues to be a part of popular culture. Ironically one of the most memorable catchphrases was never actually uttered on the show, "Just the facts, ma'am".
The phrase, actually, originated with Stan Freberg and his parody performance of St. George and the Dragonet. Freberg was able to secure permission from Jack Webb, a Freberg fan, to use the same orchestra that was conducting the Dragnet show, often restarting, because the performers were laughing too hard during the performance. St. George and the Dragonet combined the story of St. George and the Dragon with Dragnet, and the immortal phrase, "Just the facts, ma'am", was first made.
The satire went to #1 on the 1953 Billboard and Cash Box record charts. The popularity was so great that Freburg revisited the concept later with Christmas Dragnet.
-Professor Walter
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